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Discover Live Steam Ads
Our First Class Ads Really Work. Click here to see examples.
We offer 3 types of classified ads:
FIRST CLASS AD
I personally pre-screen the buyers to help make the "First Class Ad"
Spam and Scammer Resistant! Your email address will not posted.Up to 5 color pictures of equipment. Your ad will run for as long as one year (maximum).
(recommended for locomotives, high end rail cars or other harder to sell items). Be sure to include: Scale, Gauge, and Asking Price. It's also a good idea to give a general location. That way, you potential buyers can determine if they can pick up the item or if it will need to be shipped.
Here is the catch (if you want to call it that): No charge if item fails to sell. If item sells AND ONLY if it sells via this web site, we kindly request a commission of 2% (two percent) of the sale price. Minimum commission is $20. We understand this is far less that the required commission of those auction houses (am I allowed to say ebay?), but our results are excellent and our costs are very low. I charge for this service to generate some cash to try to offset my expenses in operating this web site.
Two major benefits for you, the seller, are that YOU CONTROL the entire sale. You control the pace and you control the price. Unlike e-bay, you don't have to take the lowest bid ! And you don't need to sign up or give your credit card info.
Did you know that ebay charges the seller an average of 7% of the selling price?
We reserve the right to edit or remove or refuse any ad we feel does not comply with the spirit of this web site or if we feel the seller is not serious about selling the item.
Send in your first class ad.
Email the text of your ad to: firstclass-ad@discoverlivesteam.com
(the subject line must contain the words first class ad) and please attach your photos.Here are my suggestions on what to include in your ad:
general area where equipment can be viewed (buyers get more excited if it's within driving distance).
asking price
gauge
scale
type of fuel
last hydro (for steamers)
last time loco was operated (if not currently running)
age of equipment
send some good photos that include close up details
your phone number (recommended but optional, not required since I will forward all requests to your email). Including your phone number is a good idea if you feel comfortable. It's a good idea for buyer and seller to make the deal over the phone and summarize those details in an email to make sure both sides are in agreement.
HELPFUL TIP - You need to sell your loco or cars? You need 3 things to get folks to drool over your railroad equipment: Photos, Close-up Photos and Extreme Close-up Photos. The best way for folks on the internet to understand how cool your train is, is to have some good photographs.
Scammers. I look out for and try to screen out all scammers that pray on folks selling stuff on the web. I look for buyers from the Nigeria, 3rd party buyers (no one is buying live steam using a broker), and especially buyers that want you to send off money to his shipper as soon as you get your check. He may also suggest he overpay for shipping and allow you to keep the extra $$$. I do a good job screening requests for info but it's good to be aware of scammers in case you run into one.
Market Place Entrepreneur ads, click here
Ad Policies on the For Sale page.
Can my ad be moved back to the top of the page?
Everyone wants the top of the page of course. There are two ways to get to the top of the page:
- New Listings get placed at the top of the page. That spot doesn't last long. New ads come in every week and your ad will get bumped down as new ads come in.
- Dropping your price will also cause your ad to go back to the top. Not just a dollar or two. You must reduce your price by at least 3% to get back to the top.
When your ad starts to sink lower and lower on the page, it should be taken as a sign that your price is higher than folks are willing to pay. I will keep your ad unchanged for a maximum of 12 months. After 12 months I will remove your ad without additional notice.
(We reserve the right to edit or remove or refuse any ad we feel does not comply with the spirit of this web site or if we feel the seller is not serious about selling the item.)
Can I remove my ad now and put it back up after the summer?
It's a lot of work putting ads together. I do it the old fashion way. If I do post your ad again, it will go right where it would have been if you had never removed it. You may as well keep it posted.Can I sell my train in the US if I live in Europe?
We can try but it won't be easy. To the best of my knowledge, no one has ever purchased equipment in the US from other countries (except from Canada) via this website although we've tried several times. It might be customs taxes or the exchange rate or the fear of scammers. In any case, it doesn't work well.Why was my ad turned down for posting?
I'm trying to keep this web site and the for sale page "focused". One of the comments I hear is that folks appreciate the fact that they don't have to look at unrelated advertising. I try to make sure all ads are related to the main focus of this site: Steam Powered Equipment, Ride-able Railroad Equipment, or machining to produce those.Will the item you are trying to sell pass this test?
Is your item railroad related and/or
Is it steam powered or
Can a person ride on it (or be pulled by it) and its a scale model or
Can it be used as an accessory for or used to manufacture one of the above?It's a judgment call. Send it in. If I find the item is railroad or machine shop related enough, I will carry it. If I feel that it's stretching the case too much, I will not carry it. It's totally my call and if you don't like it, post it on your web site.
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*Commission is 2% for ads placed after September 30th, 2007.